Coronavirus death toll hits 563, over 28,000 infected

The new coronavirus that appeared late December has claimed 563 lives, infected more than 28,000 people in mainland China and spread to more than 20 countries.

Here is a timeline.

New virus

Health authorities in Wuhan, an industrial city in central Hubei Province, first document the new illness on December 8.

On December 31, China alerts the World Health Organization (WHO) to cases of pneumonia in the city.

Several infections are traced to a Wuhan market, which is shut on January 1.

As infections rise, Chinese officials say on January 7 they have identified a new virus from the coronavirus family. It is named 2019-nCoV.

First death

China announces its first death in Wuhan on January 11.

Two days later the first case outside China is reported in Thailand, originating in Wuhan.

Japan reports its first case, also from Wuhan, on January 16.

The United States, Nepal, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan confirm cases over the following days.

The US starts screening flights from Wuhan, to be followed by Asian countries.

Human transmission

By January 20, nearly half of China's provinces are affected, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

A Chinese infectious disease expert confirms the illness can be transmitted between humans.

Epicenter quarantined

Wuhan is placed under quarantine on January 23, with transport links cut there and in other Hubei Province cities, affecting more than 56 million people.

The WHO says the outbreak is an emergency in China but not yet globally.

Beijing cancels events for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Several landmarks are closed.

The first two deaths are reported outside Hubei.

On January 24, the first cases are recorded in Europe, in France.

Public shutdown

Beijing extends the Lunar New Year holiday to limit travel.

On January 27, the US and Germany tell their citizens not to travel to China.

On January 28, Germany and Japan announce the first two confirmed human-to-human transmissions outside China.

China opens new hospital amid ongoing intl. contingency plans

China has finished the construction of a new hospital for Coronavirus patients in Wuhan as the outbreak claims more lives and keeps spreading inside China and beyond.

Evacuations

On January 29, the US and Japan become the first of several nations to start evacuating citizens from Wuhan.

The coronavirus emerges in the Middle East, in the United Arab Emirates.

Some international airlines suspend their China flights. Foreign companies shutdown Chinese factories and shops.

International emergency

On January 30, the WHO declares a "public health emergency of international concern."

Russia shuts its border with China.

On January 31, as Britain, France, and North Korea airlift their nationals, Italy declares a state of emergency.

The US says on February 1 it is banning the entry of foreign nationals who had recently traveled to China, a move followed by other countries.

First deaths outside China

On February 2, Wenzhou — around 800 kilometers from Wuhan — becomes the second city to be locked down.

The Philippines reports the first coronavirus death outside China.

China says it will pump in 1.2 trillion yuan (173 billion dollars) to protect growth. Chinese stocks collapse on February 3, the first day of trading since the holiday.

On February 4, Hong Kong reports a coronavirus death, the second outside the mainland.

Singapore announces its first cases of local transmissions. Gaming center Macao closes its casinos for two weeks.

The WHO says the outbreak does not yet constitute a "pandemic."

Cruise ship infections

On February 5, Hong Kong announces a mandatory two-week quarantine for all travelers from mainland China.

Millions more on the Chinese mainland are told to stay at home.

Twenty people on a cruise ship off the Japanese coast test positive for the virus, with around 3,700 on board.

Airbus closes an aircraft production facility in Tianjin near Beijing, and Vietnam joins countries banning arrivals from China.

(Source: AFP)

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